• Is so tired and weak that he hardly responds to you.• Is working very hard to breathe or finds it hard to take a breath.• Grunts when he breathes.• Has chest retractions (skin pulling in around the ribs and chest when breathing).• Has a blue or dark purple color to the nail beds, lips or gums.• Stops breathing for more than 10 seconds.• Cannot speak while trying to breathe.• Has any breathing problem that needs care right away.

Call your child’s doctor if your child:

• Does not smile or show interest in play for at least a few minutes during a four-hour period.• Wheezes or breathes harder than he did when he was seen by the doctor.• Has a tight feeling in the chest or chest pain.• Cannot be calmed for at least a few minutes each hour using methods that usually work for your child, such as holding, rocking, pacifiers or soothing talk.• Pulls at his ears or shows signs of ear pain.• Is not better or has a feeling of tiredness and weakness after three days.• Has any fever and is less than 3 months old, or has a fever lasting longer than three days in older babies.

Call if your baby:

• Is unable to breathe and suck at the same time or chokes when he sucks.

Also call if you:

• See signs of dehydration (drying out):• No urine for six to eight hours in an infant younger than one year old• No urine in more than eight hours in a child older than one year old• No tears when crying• Sunken eyes• Dry lips and mouth• See bloody saliva, phlegm or mucus.• Have any questions or concerns about how your child looks or feels.

Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.

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The cold and the flu are both common illnesses. You can tell the difference by how fast to comes on. Flu also tends to have a higher fever in adults. Both can cause sore throat, cough, stuffy head and will make you feel miserable. Both are caused by viruses, and have no cure - get better when your body makes you better. As flu can be more serious, doctors may prescribe an antiviral medication. Unlike the common cold, it is possible to prevent some flu or to reduce its severity by getting an immunization for current flu strains.